The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-23
IMPROVING THE RIVER.
Ex-Gov. ALCoRN GIVES SOME IN.
TEREsTING "REMINISCENCES.
The Introduction OF the First Measure
of Legislative .Relief-The Extortion-
ate Cotton Tax-Increase OF Produc-
ton Since the Building of Levees.

Hon. James j.. Alc0rn, ex-governor and
ex-United States senator from Mississippi,
cannot fail to be of interest 10 the people
Of the Mississippi valley. When seen by
APPEAL reporters Gov. Alcorn was in the
company of Capt. J. IL. Martin, president
OF the Merchants exchange, who is an
untiring worker in the interest OF western
waterways improvement. II was in an
swer to questions Of Capt. Martin that the
reporter caught the following historical
facts from Gov, Alcorn, who modostly
prcfaccd what he was about TO say with
the remark that "bcng a modest mnn,
and out Of public life, he was eau
tious in what he said in the
presence OF n newspaper man. But,
however" said he, "us il well known, all
OF my interests are wrapped up in the
Mississippi valley. have lived in il all
my life and expect 10 die in II. Conse-
quently have given much thought and
study TO the reclamation OF that the most
fertile and productive spot on earth. You
ask me who iist conceived the idea of
leveeing the Mississippi. | cannot say,
but an Ia its history and first introduction
before q legislative body ! think ! can
tptNh 81 lllI Nh Il
find, In looking over this river history
had the honor Of introducing the first
legislative measure comprehending the
scope of this great work. II was in
1876. | was quite young man
then. 1 was member OF the
Mississippi Legislature, and submitted u
series vi resolutions in the shape Of mo-
mortal for that Legislature 10 present TO
H.. a q la. 'pag TOD hat
memorial Congress was asked 20 deed all
OF the overflow landsoi the general govern
ment 10 the State, and through the sale of
them the state was TO have the river levccd.
Jacob Thompson, then the leading mem
Der Of Congress from Mississippi, presented
the memorial, which had been unani.
mously adopted by the Legislature, and
made an able speech IN its support. Con-
grcss concurrcd in the memorial, which
was grated into bill with the under.
standing that the work was 10 be done To
meet with the approval Of the United
States engineers. The work was system
atically undertaken, and up TO its Interrupt
ton by the war was success, and that
great section was contributing millionst the
wealth Of the country. After the war,
when our people had lost all they had and
were disfranchised, aud more than that,
were pillagcd by the collection of the oncr-
Gus and unjust cotton tax, OF which SO.
OOO,0OO was collccted-whcn they were
thus robbed without representation In the
governments affairs, ! undertook 10 eXCr-
else about the only privilege | had to
memorabilia Congress by calling its attcu.
ton t1 the changed condition Of things in
the Mississippi valley, urged that the pro.
lection oi the Mississippi delta from over
How was properly matter for the govern
ment toundcrtake, and asked that, IA mat.
ter of simple justice, the cotton tax at lcast
be appropriated 20 protect from overflow
the penplc from whom " was cxtorted and
who we've hrayely cndcnvoring tn make mn
honest living. The memorial WIS pre-.
scented to Congress. IN fact. ] went Ia
Washington that winter 10 tlo what could
In SECURING IL deserved attention. bat IL
did not meet with The fhyorth il mcritcd.
i'll tell you why There was u class ia the
north ~ hateful aud vindiciivc that they
wanted io coniiscaic the property Of the
people ot the south Not content with
having freed our ncgrOcr,thcy wanted 10
Eunilintc aIHr tnriaye us by contsating
and mying our property To our slaves,
and that wasrcnlly the object Of the cotton
tax. II WIS not until was elected 10 the
Senate, several ycan later, that sought to
gain ior my people their dues In this 10.
gard, and IN January, 1874, | introduced
n bill authorizing the Secretary oi tho
Treasury 20 issue bonds bearing per cent.
interest, On which was 10 be realized So
OO0,OO0 tn be appropriated ON the lcvccs
Since the time that MIR Calhoun had In.
don.cd the idea, there had not been any
dispute that II WIS Just and proper for the
government 10 aid IN the protection oi ita
riparian population. but when the bill
came 90 bc considered, the question oi the
right OF the federal government to appro.
pirate money for such purposes WIS raised
have never understood, except
II be on the principle Of States rights,
why the measure was opposed. The bill
was defeated by only one vote. Senator
Gordon. oi Gcuwia, who was its friend,
was unfortunately absent fnptn the cham.
Der at tie time. had already rpnc Ia
blaine and Garfield in behalf Of the meas.
urc, and they hal promised that when the
bill came 10 the house they would Scu that
II passed, but Il never reached them. II
was through my efforts that the committee
ON leNocs IN the senate WIS appointed, hut
alter retired from the senate, by
tome means or other tho commit.
Gee WIS dropped from the list. |
don't like 10 appear cgotisiical, but my
heart has been In this work through all
These ycar, and, conscious that Il was the
power and duty Of the general government
TO aid IN this natter spared no effort 90
hcure that aid. Now, 10 show Won Of what
tncalculable benefit the lcyce system Ia,
before the grant made, which was the ~.
tuli oi my resolutions a. the Mississippi
Legislature and the Subsequent approval
oi them by Congress In 1910, the counties
which u was sought to protect produced
only 5000 bales u cotton: in 1850, when
The same section was still unlevcod, only
42,uOO bales but In $50, when the grant
had been made and the counties
N question leyccd, they produced 1860
bales This added to The wealth OF the
country sla,OJ10JO annually. The cotton
tax, while Il WIS enforced un the cotton Of
those overflow counties. amounted "a
sli000,O00 yearly In the face ui such
facis as these, II dUrs seem to me that this
great cotton producing country should ~.
eeiye the generous care and expenditures
OF the general government These water.
ways conventions have done much Ia
Stimulate the country aud Congress ~ the
Importance Of this subject and | think
that the time is not distant when all the
means necessary 30 guarantee adequate
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